Eric Martin pulls together a bunch of excellent blog posts to explain exactly what the War on Terror should be trying to accomplish, and the reason why the "rule of law" is so valuable. Read the whole thing and all the ones he links to.

During the Great Depression, about 25 percent of American workers were unemployed. Back then, the government did their best to count every unemployed man. Today, women (who currently have a lower unemployment rate then men) are included in unemployment statistics. But those who have given up looking for work and/or have run out of unemployment benefits, and the "underemployed," are not. So, although 20 percent of American men are now unemployed, the way Washington currently counts unemployment figures shows that only 10 percent of Americans are unemployed. And that's good, right?

As an organization with such a good civil rights record, it sucks to see the same tired arguments used against diversity in the military. Here's a quick takedown. (self promotion warning)

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Giles Coren is getting sick of "Global Warming Jokes" - if a lowly food critic can understand the less than subtle difference between climate and weather (and grasp the basics of ocean current effects on equatorial-polar temperature distribution) then why can't all newspaper columnists?

Americans need to learn to embrace multiculturalism in the form of foreign languages in pop songs. To start, Utne Reader has provided a lovely multicultural download: African-style music sung in Hebrew by an Iraqi. Hint, fellows: Next time you squawk about "appreciating other cultures," put your money where your mouth is.

The US courts have finally put limits on the use of Tasers, hopefully reminding police that they are an alternative to lethal force, not for hurting people you think are sassing you.(self promotion warning)